Wood Carving Kit for Beginners – Wizard

A wizard hidden in a rectangular block

Unlike the Comfort Bird kit, this one does not come pre-shaped. Three basswood blocks arrive as plain rectangles, and the wizard has to be found inside them – the beard, the hood, the face – working from the pattern supplied rather than from an outline already cut.

That makes it a clear step up from the bird, and the better kit for a second attempt. Nothing is roughed out for you.

Three blocks, on purpose

Most kits give you one blank and one chance. This gives three, and the reason is the subject: a wizard is carved mostly through the beard, which is a long series of parallel grooves cut into a curved surface. The first one usually comes out shallow, the second too deep, and the third right.

All three are basswood, the softest carving wood in common use, which is what makes repeated attempts practical for a beginner.

What is in the box

A C2 carving knife, three basswood blocks, patterns for the wizard, a pencil, three sheets of P1500 sandpaper, cut-resistant tape, a printed manual and a link to a step-by-step video tutorial.

Worth knowing before you order: unlike the Comfort Bird kit, this set does not include a leather strop or beeswax. The knife arrives sharp and will carve three blocks without stropping, but if you intend to keep carving afterwards you will want a strop.

The blade is a C2

A different knife from the bird kit. The C2 has a straighter edge suited to the long pulling cuts a beard needs, where the C1M is shaped for the rounded push cuts of a smooth body.

Both are high-carbon steel hardened to 57–59 HRC, which takes a fine edge and holds it well, but rusts if left damp. Wipe the blade dry after each session.

What people do with it

The face goes first and the beard last, which is the opposite of the instinct. Carvers rough the whole figure to its silhouette, then cut the face while there is still wood to correct into, and only then commit to the beard grooves – because once the beard is cut there is nothing left to take back.

The tape goes on the hand holding the block, not the one holding the knife.

Who this suits

From 14, with an adult nearby for younger carvers. This is a real knife with a real edge. In carving the dull knife is the more dangerous one, since it has to be forced.

It is the natural second kit after the Comfort Bird, and it stands alone for anyone who has carved before.

Safety

This set contains tools with sharp edges. Handle them carefully, and use each tool only for the purpose it was designed for. Recommended from 14, with adult supervision for younger carvers.

Manufacturer and EU responsible operator

Manufactured by BeaverCraft, Ukraine.
Responsible economic operator in the European Union under Regulation (EU) 2023/988: BeaverCraft GmbH, Mörsenbroicher Weg 191, 40470 Düsseldorf, Germany.